Direct Tasmania and New Zealand flights to resume boosting tourism confidence

After a six month break, direct flights between Tasmania and New Zealand are set to return. Read why the flights have been widely welcomed.

Direct flights between Tasmania and New Zealand will resume next month – a move hailed by the tourism and hospitality industries as a big confidence booster.

Air New Zealand paused direct flights from Hobart to Auckland for six months in April to allow for aircraft engine maintenance.

It had offered flights twice weekly but added a third return flight last year to cope with growing demand.

Hobart Airport CEO Norris Carter said tickets were available for Air New Zealand’s Hobart to Auckland flights starting on October 27.

Mr Carter has dubbed the return of the flights — which will add thousands of international seats to and from Tasmania — as a “Sweet As Reunion”.

First direct flight from New Zealand to Hobart. Picture: Chris Kidd

“Every week we’ll have three flights from Hobart to Auckland, on a Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday,” he said.

“It really is a Sweet As Reunion for thousands of travellers wanting to see everything Tassie has to offer.

“It means we’ll have an additional 24,000 international seats inbound and outbound over the coming five months.

“We know that around 10 per cent of passengers flying into Hobart from Auckland during the previous peak were North American visitors, who can fly to Australia but avoid the huge queues of the mainland hubs.

“For Tasmanian travellers, it not only means they have a chance to check out New Zealand, but they have a one stop option to jet across the world to destinations including the USA and Pacific Islands.”

Supplied pix for Air New Zealand-Tasmania flights

As part of the Sweet as Reunion, the airport is asking Tasmanians what iconic gift they would send someone in Auckland.

“We’ve had some great suggestions from a Tassie Devil to Cadbury chocolate, Mona art, and even a JackJumper player,” Mr Carter said.

Tourism Industry Council Tasmania CEO Amy Hills said the return was a “welcome sign of confidence” for the industry.

“What these flights bring is obviously a direct connection with an international destination being New Zealand, but also passengers that can come through New Zealand connecting through to Tassie,” she said.

“As international visitation continues to recover after Covid, our international visitors are really important because they tend to stay a little longer and disperse and spend more in the community.

“This is a really great sign that Air New Zealand has had that break over winter, but has the confidence to put the flights back over the summer period and beyond.

“We really welcome it, and we’re looking forward to having a really strong summer coming up, especially after what has been a challenging winter.”

CEO Tourism Industry Council Tasmania Amy Hill. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Tasmanian Hospitality Association CEO Steve Old. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Tasmanian Hospitality Association CEO Steve Old described the flights as “awesome”.

“The more people that come here and eat in our restaurants, drink in our bars and sleep in accommodation venues is a great thing.

“It just adds confidence, and off the back of the Spirit announcement lately, the industry needs to start getting some confidence for the future.

“So announcements like this actually give people a bit of confidence that things are happening and that’s important.”

Premier and Tourism Minister Jeremy Rockliff described the return of international flights as “fantastic news” and “a strong sign of confidence in Tasmania’s tourism and hospitality sector”.

He said the flights would boost visitor numbers and keep the economy strong.

“The direct flights will provide fast and easy access to Tasmania for a crucial visitor market that injected $35m into our economy in the year ending March 2024,” Mr Rockliff said.

Mr Carter said the flights came on top of a $130m runway upgrade, $200m terminal redevelopment and $20m investment in carp parks and roads at Hobart Airport.

Air New Zealand launched its direct flights between Hobart and Auckland in April 2021, the first time in over two decades Tasmania had been connected to New Zealand directly across the Tasman Sea.

Originally published as Direct Tasmania and New Zealand flights to resume boosting tourism confidence